Tell the PSC that Public Utility Executive Salaries are Public Information!

Contact the Public Service Commission

This petition is now closed.

End date: Apr 30, 2013

Signatures collected: 139

139 signatures

Comments are due Friday, April 26th at 5:00!

The Montana Public Service Commission (PSC) has proposed repealing a rule that requires public utilities to disclose the salaries and benefits of its three highest paid executives. In 2010 the PSC adopted the rule because it believed that the ratepayers, who pay utility executives’ salaries, should know how much those executives are making.

The PSC held a public hearing TODAY and is accepting public comments on the proposed rule repeal through this Friday, April 26th at 5:00pm.

It’s simple: ratepayers should have the same right to access public utility information as taxpayers have to access government information. These public utilities are regulated monopolies. The public doesn’t have a choice as to which company provides them with essential services like water and power.

Four of the five current PSC members say they support eliminating the rule under the guise of personal privacy. But, Mountain Water Company, a public water utility in Missoula, is likely behind the PSC’s attempt to repeal the rule. Mountain Water Company is owned by the California based Carlyle Group, a giant private asset manager that wants to keep its executive salaries secret.

Please submit comments and tell the PSC not to repeal rule ARM 38.2.5031. Article II Section 9 of Montana’s constitution guarantees citizens the right to know. How much Montana ratepayers are forced to pay for top utility executives should be public information. Montanans have a right to know where our money goes.